Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has ascended into becoming one of the best players in the NFL. As the Bills look to remain a Super Bowl contender for years to come, though, they want Allen to change part of his playing style.
Allen, who is 6-foot-5 and weighs 237 pounds, is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the league. He has rushed for 700-plus yards in consecutive seasons and is responsible for 3,087 rushing yards and 38 rushing touchdowns in his five-year career.
- Josh Allen stats (2022): 4,283 pass yards, 35-14 TD-INT, 96.6 QB rating
However, all of those hits come at a cost. One of the highest-paid NFL quarterbacks is entering the first season of his six-year, $258 million contract. With Buffalo determined to protect its franchise quarterback, the organization is making it clear to Allen that he must take fewer hits moving forward.
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Speaking to Judy Battista of NFL Network, Bills’ coach Sean McDermott admitted the team “absolutely” wants to see Allen taking fewer hits moving forward.
“I don’t think that’s a healthy way to play QB in this league and it’s undefeated that things are going to happen when you play that style, brand of football. We have to get that adjusted and it’s never going to go completely away, but it has to get where it’s workable.”
Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott on the number of hits Josh Allen takes
As noted by Battista, Allen has taken a hit on 66 percent of his downfield runs. Furthermore, Buffalo allowed 28 quarterback hits with Allen taking an additional 33 sacks last season. Combining just the sacks and rushing attempts alone, Allen has taken hundreds of hits in the last three years.
McDermott knows the long-term toll hundreds of blows can take on an athlete, even one with Allen’s size. The 49-year-old head coach was with the Carolina Panthers (2011-’16) when Cam Newton went from the 2015 NFL MVP to a broken-down version of his former self.
Buffalo signed running back Damien Harris because it wants to run the football more next season, especially near the goal line. With the personnel changes and the comments from the organization, it’s possible we don’t see another 700-yard rushing season from Allen again.